Food intolerance tests are very popular lately and patients often come to me with one in hand, convinced that they’re allergic to any number of foods.
I never start with food intolerance tests and I’ll tell you why.
The reality is if you have dysbiosis (imbalance of the microbiome) of the gut, leaky gut, pathogens, malabsorption, infections, or inflammation of the gut, you will be intolerant to a ton of foods. The list will continue to grow until you get to the root cause of the issue. You would benefit much more by looking at the gut through specific testing to figure out why you have such hypersensitivity. When you have a leaky gut, the lining of the gut is more permeable than it should be. Food proteins leak through the gut lining and get into the bloodstream triggering an immune response. That is where these sensitivities start. Gut conditions are created over time from things like antibiotics, steroids, other medications, low stomach acid, birth control, or even stress. It is imperative to do a full history and a comprehensive look at the gut if you are experiencing food sensitivities. Click here for a look at what tests I recommend for gut testing. Occasionally there is a place for food intolerance tests. I generally only recommend them once we have healed the gut and there still seems to be an issue — or if we suspect the patient has a food intolerance, like gluten, and they are unwilling to take it out of their diet without a test. |
If you would like to get to the root cause of your food sensitivities, schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Finnegan. |
